Lupine plant named ‘WCLKICA’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lupine plant named ‘WCLKICA’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; numerous large violet blue and white bi-colored flowers arranged on dense terminal racemes; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lupinus hybrid.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WCLKICA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lupineplant, botanically known as Lupinus hybrid and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘WCLKICA’.

The new Lupine plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Devon, United Kingdom. The objective of thebreeding program is to develop new uniform and freely flowering Lupineplants with large attractive flowers.

The new Lupine plant originated from an open-pollination in June, 2012of an unnamed selection of Lupinus Russell Hybrids, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Lupinus hybrid asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Lupine plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor in June, 2012 as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlledenvironment in Devon, United Kingdom.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lupine plant by in vitro meristemculture in a controlled greenhouse environment in Hillegom, TheNetherlands since March, 2013 has shown that the unique features of thisnew Lupine plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lupine have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such astemperature and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘WCLKICA’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘WCLKICA’ as a new and distinct Lupine plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Numerous large violet blue and white bi-colored flowers        arranged on dense terminal racemes.    -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lupine can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Lupine differ from plants of the femaleparent selection primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lupine are shorter than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Lupine are more vigorous and healthier than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Racemes of plants of the new Lupine are denser than racemes        of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Lupine can be compared to plants of Lupinus hybrid‘The Governors’, not patented. Plants of the new Lupine differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘The Governors’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lupine are shorter than plants of ‘The        Governors’.    -   2. Plants of the new Lupine are more vigorous and healthier than        plants of ‘The Governors’.    -   3. Racemes of plants of the new Lupine are denser than racemes        of plants of ‘The Governors’.    -   4. Plants of the new Lupine and ‘The Governors’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘The Governors’ have dark blue purple and        white bi-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Lupine plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Lupine plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is side perspective view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘WCLKICA’ grown in a ground bed.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘WCLKICA’ grown in a ground bed.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants of the new Lupine grown during the spring andearly summer in ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Hillegom, TheNetherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Lupineproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 13° C. to 27° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 18° C.Plants were one year old when the photographs and the detaileddescription were taken. In the detailed description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lupinus hybrid ‘WCLKICA’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Lupinus            Russell Hybrids, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Lupinus            hybrid, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About four to            five days at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About five to            six weeks at temperatures about 15° C. to 17° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About seven to            eight weeks at temperatures about 15° C. to 17° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically creamy white to            light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent            on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation.        -   Rooting habit.—Main tap root with low lateral branching;            medium in density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit; moderately            vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 67.8            cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 47.1 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 13 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1.9 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Texture and luster.—Sparsely to moderately pubescent;            moderately glossy.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Color.—Close to 144B; proximally, strongly tinged with close            to 187B to 187C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, palmately compound with about 13            leaflets per leaf.        -   Leaf length.—About 16.9 cm.        -   Leaf width.—About 17 cm.        -   Leaflet length.—About 9.5 cm.        -   Leaflet width.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Leaf shape.—Palmate, orbicular in outline.        -   Leaflet shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.        -   Leaflet base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaflet margin.—Entire.        -   Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;            matte.        -   Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Moderately            pubescent; matte.        -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to            143A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 138A.            Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to N137B;            venation, close to 143B. Fully expanded leaflets, lower            surface: Close to between 138A and 147B; venation, close to            144B.        -   Leaf petioles.—Length: About 17.3 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately            pubescent; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            144A; proximally, strongly tinged with close to 183C to            183D.        -   Stipules.—Quantity and arrangement: One at the base of the            petiole. Length: About 3.8 cm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143A;            towards the base, close to 183C to 183D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower appearance and arrangement.—Single large            papilionaceous flowers arranged in dense terminal racemes;            freely flowering habit with usually about 200 flowers            developing per inflorescence; flowers face mostly outwardly.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from early            summer into the midsummer in The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two weeks on the plant;            flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Strongly fragrant; peppery.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 62.9 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7.3 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.6 cm by 2.4 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 2.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Shape: Ovate. Color: Base, close to 145B; proximally, close            to between 95A and 103B; distally, close to 157A.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Flowers papilionaceous with an            upper standard petal, two lateral (wing) petals and a lower            keel petal. Length: Upper standard petal: About 2.1 cm.            Lateral petals: About 2.1 cm. Keel: About 1.8 cm. Width:            Upper standard petal: About 1.6 cm. Lateral petals: About            1.3 cm. Keel: About 4 mm. Shape: Upper standard petal:            Orbicular; folded backwards. Lateral petals: Obovate; curved            and concave. Keel: Ovate; curved and folded. Apex: Upper            standard petal: Shallowly emarginate. Lateral petals:            Obtuse. Keel: Caudate. Margin, all petals: Entire. Texture            and luster, upper and lower surfaces, all petals: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color, when opening, upper surface: Upper            standard petal: Close to 157B to 157C; towards the base,            close to 1B to 1C; proximal margins, close to 102B. Lateral            petals: Close to 94C. Keel: Close to 145D; apex, close to            203C. Color, when opening, lower surface: Upper standard            petal: Close to 150C to 150D; proximal margins, close to            99B. Lateral petals: Close to between 93A and 94A. Keel:            Close to 145D; apex, close to 203C. Color, fully opened,            upper surface: Upper standard petal: Close to 155A; proximal            margins, close to 94A; with development, ground color            becoming closer to between 155A and 158D. Lateral petals:            Close to 94B; with development, color becoming closer to            93A. Keel: Close to 92B; apex, close to between 103A and            203C; color does not change with development. Color, fully            opened, lower surface: Upper standard petal: Close to 155A;            proximal margins, close to 94A. Lateral petals: Close to            between 95A and 96A, closest to 96A. Keel: Close to 92B;            apex, close to between 103A and 203C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Two. Length: About 6 mm. Width:            About 4 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base:            Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: When            opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 144B to            144C tinged with close to 91B. When opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 145B tinged with close to            91B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 50.3 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 177A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 80° from peduncle            axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to N187B to            N187C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower: About            ten. Filament length: About 4 mm to 9 mm. Filament color:            Close to 145D. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:            Narrowly oblong. Anther color: Close to N170A to N170B.            Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 24A.            Gynoecium: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            1.1 cm. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: Close to            150D. Stigma shaped: Club-shaped, fringed. Stigma color:            Close to 1C to 1D. Ovary color: Close to 149D.        -   Fruits.—Quantity per flower: One. Length: About 5.7 cm.            Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color:            Close to between 139A and 147A.        -   Seeds.—Quantity per fruit: About nine. Length: About 5 mm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Color: Close to 200A.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lupine have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, high    temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone    5.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Lupine have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lupine    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lupine plant named ‘WCLKICA’ asillustrated and described.